Metallic mat.



J. NATTERER.

METALLIC MAT. APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1915.

1,153,698. PatentedSept. 14, 1915.

A TTORNE Y J1 15 k INVENTOR D Jasep/uifi/kmr HQ Q @wgfia FT CiE.

JOSEPH NATTERER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

nnrALLIoMA'r.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

Application filed April 21, 1915. Serial No. 22,743.

Y '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn: NATTERER, a

citizen of the United States, and a residentof Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have lnvented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Mats,

of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to flexible metallic mats composed of a plurality of link members; and it has for its object to provide a mat of this character of which the individual members thereof may be readily and inexpensively stamped from suitable metal and conveniently assembled to form the mat. A further object of the invention is to so construct the mat that it may be manufactured in stock lengths from which any desired length of mat may be readily separated. The various links composing a mat, furthermore, are designed to'be securely interlocked without a separate rod or the like, as generally employed, and will permit of a neat finish at the sides and ends of the mat. The nature of the invention will be best understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the improved spective. ber of interlocked links. Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a longitudinal and transverse section taken on the lines 38, and H,

Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a'plan of modification in the design of the links composing the mat.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

As shown in thedrawings, the mat consists of a plurality of open ended links formed of strip metal and substantially in the shape of a U with straight sides 11, Figs. 1 to a; or, with straight sides and semi-circular, outwardly directed portions 12, Fig. 5,'between the open and closed ends of a link. The longitudinally extending side portions 11 are provided substantially at the middle portion of their free ends with circular perforations 13 forming pintle seats or bearings and with a slit or opening 14 extending thereto from an edge of the respective sides. These openings, when the links are assembled to form the mat, are closed as will be hereinafter set forth. The laterally extending connecting portion or cross-bar 15 of a link is provided at each corner with a pair of vertical slots 16 and 17 extending inwardly from the edges thereof and leavmat in per- Fig. 2 is a'detail plan of a numing centrally located pintle portions 18 and 19. hese portions are adapted to fit into the bear'ngs 13 provided in the sides of fellow links, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3 of the drawings. When the slit 1% of such bearing is closed, the pintles 18 and 19 will be securely locked in the seats or bearings'13 provided in the sides of fellow links, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3 of the drawings, but will possess ample freedom of motion, efl'ecting as it. were a hinged connection between the link members but obviating the use of rods extending transversely through the mat for this purpose.

The interlocking arrangement, as shown in the drawing, is such that the links are spaced side by side in rows, the closed ends of a succeeding row belng located between two adjacent links of the first row, one side of each of said adjacent links being locked together by the end of aisucceeding link. The desired width and length of the mat is obtained merely byadding links in both directions. To nnish the mat at one end, suitable end pieces 20, which may be links with the sides cut ofi, are introduced over the ends of adjacent links, as shown. At the other end, the mat .may be finished by merely including a cross-bar or piece 21, which is notched for this purpose, being provided with corresponding pairs of vertical slots 22 afi'ording intermediate portions 23, Fig. 1, adapted to be locked in the bearings of the various ends of the sides. .In this manner, the mat may be made in considerable lengths and from which other mats of various sizes may be separated by merely opening the links .at any particular portion, inserting a bar and then closing the said ends thereon. To finish the sides of the mat, it will be understood, of course, that only one side of a link member is required. The ends and sides of the mat may, of course, be finished in any other suitable manner, and the above described means afford, by way of example, one convenient means of effecting the same.

In'Fig. 5, a modification in the form of the link is shown, a portion thereof, at the closed end of the link, being rounded outwardly in order that said portions of adjacent links may contact and tend to reinforce each other to provide a more rigid structure. The links, whether rectangular or provided with the circular portions 12, may be further strengthened, if desired, by means of the pieces both ends of the mat could thus suitable rods 2% extending transversely through suitable perforations provided in the sides of the link. structure shown in Fig. 5, one end is thus finished by a rod 24:, and the same may be applied to one end of the rectangular form shown in Figs. 1 to 4: andin which case cent li nks contacting with-each-vother andthe two sides of a link being pivotally held in theends of two succeeding links.

A flexible, metallic mat composed of-a plurality of interlocked U-shape links, the

7 two sides ofa link being provided substantially 'at the middle. of their free ends with a hearing or pintle seat and with a corre sponding slit extending thereto-from an edge ottheesaid sides, and'the cross piece of a link being. provided with two pairs of slots extendingverticallyi inward :from its two edges to provide a central pintle portion adapted to be held in the said bearings of the sides to pivotally attach the links to one another and theentrance slits to said bearingsbeing closed toilock the pintle portion therein.

3." A fleXible,= metallic mat composed ot a plurality of interlocked Urshape links, thetwo sidesof a link being provided substantially at the middle -0t their= free endswith a bearing or. pintle seat and with acorresponding slit extending thereto. from an edgeiof the said sides, and theicrosspieee of a link being provided with: two pairsof slots -extendingl-vertically-inward tromaits two edges ed-provide a central pintle portion adapted tozbe held in the said bearingsof the sides topivotally attach: the-links to one another; and the (flitlztIlOfiSlltS to said bearings being closed to.lock=.the pintle portionthere- I bar adapted to be locked.

in, and atransverse In the case of'the 20 could be dispensed with. Or,.

in the bearingsof said ends of the last row of links.

i. A flexible, metallic mat composed of a plurality of interlocked U-shape links, the two sides of a link being provided substantially at the middle of their free ends with a bearing or pintle seat and witha correspendingslit extending thereto from an edge of the said sides, and the cross piece of a link being provided with two; palrs of slots eX- tendingvertically inward from; its two edges to provide a central pintle portion adapted to be held in the saidlbearings oi the sides to) pivetally attach the links to one another and; the entrance slits'tosaidbearings being closed tolock the pintleivpontion therein, anda transversebar provided. with pairs of slots extending vertically inward from ltS'BClgBS to provide a central portion adapted to be locked in. the bearings in said ends of the lastrow otlinks 7 7 5. A flexible, inetallidniat composed of a plurality otiinterlocked Ueshape. links, the two sidesofza link being provided substantially at the'middle ofiitheiriree ends with a hearing or 'pintle seat'and: withla corre sponding, slit extending thereto: from, an edge of the saidsides, and thecross piece of a link being provided with .two'; pairs of slots extending vertically inward from its. two edges to; provide a; central pintle portion adapted :to beheld in the said bearings of the sides to pivotalily attach the-links teone another and the entrance slits; to said bearings being closed to lock thepintle portion thereirn; atransverse bar provided with; pairs of slots, extending i vertical-1y inward from itsedgesto protide acentra-l portioniadapt ed to be locked in theIbearingsin said ends of the lihStfil'QY of links, and s1de:p1eces;c0n-

sistingof a half [of ,a link and attachedtoalternate rows of linksatthe side ofthe mat to finishuthe'same.

Signed: at, Newark, in "theicounty of Essex,

copies ei thispatent, maybe obtained for five cents each; by ,eddress ing' the ,f Commissioner ofiePatents,

Washington, 940.- p 

